News & Events

China Visa Requirements

Date October 22, 2018

One of the biggest worries students have regarding working and studying in China is their China VISA requirements. Without a doubt, China is strict about VISAs. However, it can be quite easy to obtain your visa if you follow the right processes and understand the details involved.

For students planning a future in China, it is imperative to make sure you start on the right foot by following the laws around getting the right Chinese Visa.

GoAbroadChina has an experienced team here to guide you through the China Visa Application process. Here are some more details to help you understand the details around getting a visa for China.

Types of Visa’s

While there are a number of Visa’s available to travel, live and work in China, students coming to study and work in China need to ensure they get an X-Visa. Here are all the types of Visa’s you may encounter when coming to China to study and intern, and what each is for.

Visitor Visa (F-Visa)

Tourist Visa (L-Visa)

Business Visa (M-Visa)

Private Affairs Visa (S-Visa)

Student Visa (X-Visa)

Also called the ‘Non-commercial visa’, this visa is issued to those who are invited to come to China to take part in study tours, scientific or cultural exchanges, to conduct lectures, investigations or for other non-business purposes.

Prior to 2013, students could come to China for a six-month internship, paid or unpaid, on the F-Visa (Visitor Visa). These days, this visa has been updated and is now deemed for 'non-commercial' visits only. An F-Visa is most suited to people who are coming to offer their time in an unpaid volunteering capacity. Applying for this visa when coming to China for your internship usually ends in visa rejection.

This visa is issued to people who intend to come and tour in China. Tourists are able to travel freely in most parts of China. (There are visa-free policies for tourists and it is worth checking to see if you qualify if your goal in China is simply to see and explore).

The L-Visa is most certainly not an ideal visa for interns as it is for tourist use only. This means that should you try and work on this visa, you will have no employee rights and are an illegal worker. You will be at the mercy of your employer, who can change your employee agreements, refuse to pay and more - you will not be able to report them as this may result in substantial fines and deportation for yourself, hampering any future hopes of coming to China.

he M-Visa is intended for people going to China for commercial and trade purposes, for example, visiting clients or suppliers, negotiations, trade fairs or signing contracts.

The M-Visa is commonly offered for internships in China, especially because it doesn’t cost anything. However, we don’t recommend it, as it doesn’t allow you to be compensated for your work, in other words, you will not be paid for your internship on this visa. The best visa option for coming to China on an internship is the X-Visa.

The S-Visa is issued to people who intend on visiting their family members (spouses, parents, children, brothers, daughters, in-laws, grandparents or grandchildren), who are foreigners studying or working in China, or those who intend on visiting China for other private matters.

Although for use by relatives visiting students in China, the S-Visa can be used by companies in Beijing’s Zhongguancun Science Park for students studying in Beijing to complete short-term internships (as they can be loosely described as "personal affairs". However, this is not the case in the rest of China. Proceed with caution if you are offered an S-Visa for your internship.

The X-Visa is intended for people who are coming to China to study, complete advanced studies or to do fieldwork (or internships). This is the ideal visa for those who are coming to China to learn Chinese, take part in Internshipsor complete other studies in China.
The grey areas for visa use regarding internships was removed in early 2016 and the law is now very clear on the fact that the X-Visa is the approved visa for internships in China.
Students coming to China on an X-Visa will need to have registered their residency in China. To work on your X-Visa, you need to also have submitted your internship applications to your school in China and have received the school's approval. The approval letter is taken to the local ENtry and Exit office (Public Security Bureau). The department will update your visa with the details of your internship such as:

Company name

Location

Length of employment.

The difference between the X-1 Visa and the X2-Visa is the length of stay. The X-1 Visa is for a duration of up to 12 months, while the X-2 Visa os for durations of up to six months. It is possible to extend your X-Visa in mainland China. In some instances, you may need to travel to Hong Kong to extend it.
The visa requirements will differ for each student because of your nationality, project duration, and your internship company. Our visa department is here to help you. We have successfully helped more than 10,000 students from 85 countries successfully apply for their visas. For more information, see our main visa page or contact our visa team.

Getting the Right Visa

While the above list does not include all the Visa’s available for coming to China, it does include those you may encounter as you apply to come to China. The visa type you apply for will depend on what you are coming for, how long you’ll be here for and often, how long in advance you’ve applied.

In summary:

The F-Visa is for invited volunteers and visitors.

L-Visas are for tourists only and cannot be used for legal internships.

The M-Visa has limitations when used for internships and are not ideal.

S-Visas can be used for internships within specific high-tech zones.

X-Visas are the most appropriate for internships

Both paid and unpaid internships are legal in China. You must, however, make sure you have the right visa. Pay attention to the guidelines of the particular city you will be staying in as the guidelines can differ, especially in certain technology zones where the foreigner-policies have been relaxed to encourage foreign workers.

Always insist on getting the right visa, don’t compromise. Your visa application record will stay with you and in future may impact further visa applications if you get it wrong.

The China Visa Application Process

You’ll need to wait before applying for your visa to China as you’ll need documents from us to help with your application. Once you’ve gained acceptance into our program and paid, we’ll send you the supporting documents you need to apply for your visa.

Step 2: Supply us with a copy of the passport you’ll be using to travel to China so we can issue documents with the correct name and Passport number on them. We will supply you with a letter of invitation as well as other supporting documents as needed for the relevant visa. You must submit original documents for your visa application. Remember, if you have dual citizenship, you need to apply for your visa with the passport you intend traveling on. You’ll need to use the same passport as identification for university application in China.

Step 3: Download and complete the Visa Application form from your nearest Chinese Visa Office, Consulate or Embassy’s website. We can help you fill in the form and make sure it’s correct before you submit it.

Step 4: Confirm whether you need to book an appointment for submission as you’ll need to submit your documents in person (if necessary, you can entrust someone else (without a Power of Attorney) to act on your behalf.

Additional Documents Required for Visa Application

Under normal circumstances, you will usually also need the following documents in addition to the visa-specific documents listed above for a successful visa application:

Two recent passport-size photos

A valid passport that doesn’t expire within six months of your stay in China

A Certified Physical Examination record (for those applying for an X-visa)

The visa application fee. All applicants will need to pay for their own visa application fee.

Visa Processing Time

Please note that the visa process varies in length, cost and application requirement depending on your nationality. Confirm the processing time with your Visa Office.

Tips for Successful Visa Application

Here are some helpful tips for a successful visa application:

Only submit original documents for valid visa application.

You do not need a copy of an ID Card for a Chinese Citizen for a study or business visa.

Check with your nearest Chinese Consulate before applying as it can be harder to get a visa to China, or one for the right length of stay if you are coming from some countries. In some instances organizing a double-entry visa may be a solution.

Ensure you’re applying for the right visa type. You don’t need a Z-Visa, for instance, unless you’re coming to China for permanent full-time work. The Z-Visa requires you to have a bachelors degree and at least two years of proven experience.

The regulations around visa applications are constantly changing, make sure you confirm requirements for your visa type.

Great news for those coming to study and intern in China, the Ministry for Public Security announced earlier in 2018 that they are lowering the exit and entry threshold to make it easier for overseas talent to come and study and work in the city.

Visa Support

Our team is here to help you with guidance and advice throughout the Visa Application process. If you have more questions, we have a little more information on ourmain visa page or you can contact us and we’ll be in touch to give you a hand where we can.